Navajo Landing

“Look out!” bellowed Pedro. Pedro looked at his friends, Mary and Tiffany. “Are you two ready for a sweet ride?” “Yes,” they both whispered softly.

Pedro had let both girls in on the secret of the time machine because Juan had been sick with the flu for nearly one week now. He had encouraged Pedro to take their friends and continue traveling. Tiffany had brought her video camera, and Mary was armed with a notepad, pen, and digital camera. However, they still weren’t sure that the boys’ stories were accurate or even true.

Whir. Blip. Beep. Lights flashed, sirens blared, and the machine sped into action. “We’re moving!” gasped Mary, grasping her seatbelt until her knuckles were white. Before they realized what was happening, they were flying into the bright sunlight. Below the machine was a red, mud-covered building.

“That’s a hogan,” whispered Pedro. “People lived in them for hundreds of years. They have no windows. They are cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Come on. I want to show you my favorite part of this village!”

All three kids walked to the end of the village. Pedro poked his head into a hogan and smiled. The man inside smiled back.

“He’s the medicine man. He also makes sand paintings.” Pedro motioned to the girls as he entered the hogan, dropping to his knees. The old man, without speaking, handed him several different bowls with brightly-colored sand in each one. Sand painting lessons had begun.